Swivel spray aerators



'Aug. 8', 1967 A. M. MOEN 3,334,818

SWIVEL SPRAY AERATORS Filed Sept. 22, 1965 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 4Mffw/zr far/1g Aug. 8 96 A. M. MOEN 3,334,818

S WIV-EL S PRAY AERATORS Filed Sept. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a I I 26i z/A [fer/2r ,///0mgm United States Patent 3,334,818 SWIVEL SPRAYAERATORS Alfred M. Moen, 25 Lakeview Drive, Grafton, Ohio 44044 FiledSept. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 489,324 12 Claims. (Cl. 239428.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an improvedcombination spray and aerator device to be attached to the end of afaucet. In particular, the invention relates to such a device which canbe swivelly attached to the end of the faucet. The combination swivelspray aerator has an outer axially movable handle member, formed of amaterial having minimum heat conducting properties, which can beutilized to change the device from a spray position to an aeratingposition. In the aerating position the spray passages are used to carryair into the stream of water for providing aeration. In the sprayposition, the aerating water passage is closed. Of importance in thedevice is the simplified construction and the ease with which the devicemay be manipulated and changed from one position to another.

This invention relates to a combination spray and aerator and inparticular to improvements on a swivel spray aerator.

One purpose of the invention is a device of the type described includingan improved screening arrangement for breaking up the water into a finespray, which screening arrangement can be easily removed for cleaning.

Another purpose is a spray aerator having an improved screen assembly.

Another purpose of a spray aerator of the type described in which thehandle used for changing from a spray position to an aerated position issubstantially unaffected by the temperature of the water passing throughthe device.

Another purpose is a combination spray aerator with removable parts tofacilitate cleaning, and with parts being interchangeable to the extentthat the swivel may be removed with the remaining portions of the devicebeing connected directly to a faucet spout.

Another purpose is a device of the type described including an upstreamconical screen so arranged as to resist clogging by sediment or othermaterial in the water flowing through the device.

Another purpose is an improved spray aerator of the type shown in US.Patent 2,989,249.

Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawing andclaims.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the following drawingswherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a faucet with the combinationspray aerator of this invention attached thereto,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section along plane 2-2 of FIGURE 1, showing thespray aerator in position for an aerated discharge,

FIGURE 3 is a section, similar to FIGURE 2, with the spray aerator in aspray position,

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the aerator shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, and

FIGURE 5 is a partial section on a reduced scale illustrating the devicewith the swivel removed.

Turning to FIGURE 1, a faucet indicated generally at may be connected towater inlet pipes 12 which carry hot and cold water to the faucet, asconventional. The faucet 10 may be a single lever faucet and a handle 14may be used in regulating the volume and temperature of 3,334,818Patented Aug. 8, 1967 the water. A spout 16 may be used to dischargewater from the faucet. A spray aerator indicated generally at 18 isattached to the discharge end of the spout as will appear more fullyhereinafter.

Turning to FIGURES 2 and 3, the discharge end of the spout 16 isindicated at 20 and there may be an adapter 22 welded or otherwisesuitably attached thereto. The adapter 22 has a threaded area 24 whichmates with a threaded area 26 on a mounting member 28. The adapter 22has an inner somewhat spherical surface 30 which partially encloses theouter spherical surface 32 of a swivel 34. An O-ring or seal ring 36 maybe positioned between the lower surface of the adapter 22, an innersurface of the mounting member 28 and the outer surface 32 of the swivel34. Seal ring 36 not only provides a seal for the swivel 34 but alsoprovides a seal for the housing of the swivel, the housing being made upof the adapter 22 and the mounting member 28.

The adapter 22 has a generally centralized water passage 38 which is incommunication with and concentrically aligned with a similar waterpassage 40 in the swivel 34. At the lower end of the passage 40, thepassage flares out in a conical direction, as at 42, and there may be aconical screen 44 positioned in or at the lower end of the swivel. Thelower end of the swivel member 34 has a downwardly directed flange 46with a lip 47 which bears against an annular seal ring 48 held betweenthe swivel member and a jet forming member 50. The jet forming member 50may have apertures 52 and an upwardly directed annular portion 54 whichis threadedly engaged with swivel flanges 46, as at 56.

The member 50 may have a central downwardly directed portion 57 whichmounts a water deflector 58 at its lower end. A screw or the like 60 mayextend upwardly into the down-turned portion 57 and attaches a pluralityof screens 62, 64 and 66 at the downstream end of the assembly. The jetforming member 50 further has a flange 68 at its outer periphery whichextends downwardly from the portion 54.

An integral passage and spray forming member indicated generally at 70may include an inner cylindrical wall 72 which is closely adjacent theouter periphery of the screens 62, 64 and 66, and which has an inturnedconical portion 74 at its upper end. The member 70 further hasan outerperipheral handle 76 and an upwardly extending flange 78 which isdirected inside of flange 68 and which has an inner surface 80 insliding contact with an outer surface 82 of the member 50. A seal ring81 may be effective between surfaces 80 and 82. The lower end of themember 70 may have a plurality of water discharge openings 84illustrated particularly in FIGURE 4. A passage 86 may be formed betweenthe upper end of cylindrical wall 72 and the inner surface of adownwardly extending portion 88 of the member 50. Passage 86 opens intoa plurality of circumferentially disposed dividers 90 which are utilizedto break up water flowing downwardly through passage 86 into a pluralityof individual water jets angularly arranged relative to each other tothus form a conical spray at the discharge openings 84.

As indicated clearly in FIGURES 2 and 3, screens 62 and 64 are incontact across their radially extending areas. A bushing 92 spaces thecontacting screens from a third screen 66. It is highly advantageous tohave this par from a spray to an aerated condition, will remain at atemperature which is comfortable for the person using the device.

It should be noted that the device may be easily disassembled forcleaning. Screw 60 holds the screens into position relative to the jetforming member 50. In disassembly, screw 60 is first removed, whichpermits the screens to be removed from the device. The deflecting member58 is then removed after which the member 70 can be slid oif of thedownturned portion 88 on the jet forming member 50. Note that theinwardly directed conical portion 74 of the member 72 will hold member70 in position in the device until deflecting member 58 has beenremoved.

It is important to note that the threaded connections formed at 24 and26 and at 56 are the same diameter and of the same thread pitch. In thisway the device may be mounted, as shown in FIGURE 5, with the swivelremoved. The jet forming member 50 is attached directly to the adapter22 so that there can be an aerated or spray discharge without any swiveloperation.

The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows:

When the device is in the position of FIGURE 2, water will flow downpassage 40 to the conical screen 44 and then downwardly through the jetforming apertures 52. The apertures 52 create jets of water which willbe directed downwardly against the deflecting member 58. The member 58will break up the jets of water into individual sprays, with the waterthen flowing through screens 66, 64 and 62 and out the open downstreamend of the device. Air will be drawn upwardly through openings 84 andpassage 86 and will mix with the water after it leaves apertures 52. Thedownwardly moving water will provide a venturi effect and draw airupwardly through passage 86 and there will be a mixing of water and airprior to the time that the water impacts against the deflecting member58. It is important to note that all of the air is drawn upwardly fromthe bottom of the device which provides the greatest protection againstcontaminants from the sink and surrounding areas being drawn into thestream of water.

In the position of FIGURE 3, which is arrived at by axially moving orsliding member 70, the inwardly turned conical section 74 has beenplaced against the deflecting member 58 so that all water flowingthrough apertures 52 must flow downwardly through passage 86 and out thespray openings 84. In this position of the device there is no aeratingeffect because there is no way for air to get into the water streamuntil after it has been discharged. When member 70 has been moveddownwardly, as in FIGURE 3, flange 68 masks the upper end of upwardlydirected flange 78 to further prevent contaminants from the surroundingarea entering the water stream. Note that seal ring 81 assists in thisfunction.

The device may either be usedto provide a spray or an aerated discharge.When a spray is desired, handle 76 is moved to the down position ofFIGURE 3, thus blocking off access to the screens and utilizing thecircumferential passage 86 as a water discharge. When an aerateddischarge is desired, handle 76 is moved to the position of FIGURE 2 andair is drawn upwardly through passage 86 to mix with the water before itpasses downwardly through screens 62, 64 and 66.

Of importance in the invention is the conical screen 44. The screen notonly provides the customary removal of sediment and particles from thewater stream, but the screen is substantially self-cleaning in that allof the particles will be moved by the force of the water toward thelower outside end of the screen, thus leaving the center of the screenclear.

As discussed above, the particular screen arrangement at the bottom ofthe device is important. It is practical and advisable to have thescreens positioned in contact with each other and disposed relative toeach other as the screen 66 is to the pair of screens 64 and 62. The

screw 60 should firmly hold two of the screens against bushing 92 withthe top of bushing 92 holding the remaining screen against the bottom ofthe deflecting member 58. The screens are thus assembled as a unit andare firmly held in contact with each other.

It is desirable and advantageous to use asubstantially non-heatconducting material for the member 70 which includes the handle 76. Inthis way the housewife, or whoever else is using the spray aerator, cancomfortably manipulate it.

The threaded connection between the adapter 22 and,

the mounting member 28 is the same diameter and pitch as the threadedconnection between the bottom of the swivel and the jet forming member50. In this way the spray aerator portion of the device may be directlyattached to the faucet without the swivel.

In normal operation, with the swivel, the Water dis-v charge, whether itbe a spray or an aerated stream, may I be directed at any portion of thesink simply by swiveling the entire unit. The unit will remain in aparticular position and will not move during water discharge. Withoutthe swivel arrangement water discharge will be directly down from thespout.

Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and describedherein, it should be realized that there are many modifications,substitutions and alterations thereto within the scope of the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. In a combination spray and aerator for attachment to a faucet, faucetmounting means having a centralized water passage, a swivel memberhaving a centralized water passage in general alignment with the waterpassage in said mounting means, means for attaching said swivel to saidmounting means, a radially extending apertured jet forming memberattached to said swivel member in alignment with said water passage,spray forming means attached to and positioned on the downstream side ofsaid jet forming member, said spray forming means including a generallycylindrical wall enclosing a plurality of generally centrally positionedscreens, said screens being removably attached to said jet formingmember and swivel member, means defining a circumferentially extendingaxially directed passage outside of and adjacent said cylindricalmember, said cylindrical member and passage means being axially movablerelative to said screens, handle means attached to said passage definingmeans for axially moving said passage defining means and saidcylindrical member to a first position in which water passing throughsaid jet forming member is directed through said screens and air isdrawn upwardly through said passage for mixing with the water prior topassing through said screens, and a second position in which saidcylindrical member blocks water access to said screens and directs waterdownwardly through said passage.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that there arethree screens, with two of said screens being in contact with each otherover their entire areas, and the third screen being spaced a smalldistance from said contacting screens.

3. The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that said thirdscreen is upstream of said contacting screens.

4. The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that the outerperiphery of said screens is closely adjacent the inside surface of saidcylindrical member, with said screens being centrally attached to saidapertured jet forming member.

5. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that saidcylindrical member has an inwardly extending conical portion at itsupstream end, and an annular water deflection member positioned upstreamof said screens and downstream of said jet forming member, with theconical portion of said cylindrical member being in water blockingcontact with said deflecting member when in said second position.

6. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including aconical screen positioned upstream of said jet forming member, with thecenter of said screen being further upstream than the outer edge.

7. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that saidcylindrical member, passage means and handle means are a single integralunit formed of a material having minimum heat conduction properties toreduce the heat applied to said handle means by the water flowingthrough said spray aerator combination.

8. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the means forattaching said swivel to said mounting means includes a threadedconnection therebetween, said jet forming member being threadedlyattached to said swivel, with the threads and diameters of the threadedconnection between said jet forming member and swivel member and theswivel member and mounting means being the same whereby said jet formingmember may be directly attached to said mounting means.

9. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including aseal ring in contact with the outer periphery of said swivel member andan inner surface of the means for attaching said swivel to said mountingmeans, said seal ring further being in peripheral contact with saidmounting means.

10. The structure of claim 5 further characterized in that said waterdeflection member has a curved outer surface.

11. In a combination spray and aerator for attachment to a faucet,faucet mounting means having a centralized water passage, a swivelmember having a centralized water passage in general alignment with thewater passage in said mounting means, means for attaching said swivel tosaid mounting means, a radially extending apertured jet forming memberattached to said swivel member in alignment with said water passage,spray forming means attached to and positioned on the downstream side ofsaid jet forming member, said spray forming means including a generallycylindrical wall enclosing a plurality of generally centrally positionedscreens, means defining a circumferentially extending axial-1y directedpassage outside of and adjacent said cylindrical member, handle meansattached to said passage defining means for axially moving said passagedefining means and said cylindrical member to a first position in whichwater passing through said jet forming member is directed through saidscreens and air is drawn upwardly through said passage for mixing withthe water prior to passing through said screens, and a second positionin which said cylindrical member blocks water access to said screens anddirects water downwardly through said passage, and an outer downwardlyextending flange depending from said jet forming member to mask theupper end of said passage forming means and handle means at allpositions of said handle means.

12. The structure of claim 11 further characterized by an annular sealbetween the inner surface of said handle means and an outer surface ofsaid jet forming member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,477,204 7/ 1949 Ravine 239-42852,734,772 2/1956 Baier et al 239-4285 2,799,487 7/1957 Aghnides 239-42852,941,729 6/1960 Goodrie 239428.5

2,989,249 6/1961 Richter 239428.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,090,593 10/1960 Germany.

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A COMBINATION SPRAY AND AERATOR FOR ATTACHMENT TO A FAUCET, FAUCETMOUNTING MEANS HAVING A CENTRALIZED WATER PASSAGE, A SWIVEL MEMBERHAVING A CENTRALIZED WATER PASSAGE IN GENERAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE WATERPASSAGE IN SAID MOUNTING MEANS, MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID SWIVEL TO SAIDMOUNTING MEANS, A RADIALLY EXTENDING APERTURED JET FORMING MEMBERATTACHED TO SAID SWIVEL MEMBER IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID WATER PASSAGE,SPRAY FORMING MEANS ATTACHED TO AND POSITIONED ON THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OFSAID JET FORMING MEMBER, SAID SPRAY FORMING MEANS INCLUDING A GENERALLYCYLINDRICAL WALL ENCLOSING A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY CENTRALLY POSITIONEDSCREENS, SAID SCREENS BEING REMOVABLY ATTACHED TO SAID JET FORMINGMEMBER AND SWIVEL MEMBER, MEANS DEFINING A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDINGAXIALLY DIRECTED PASSAGE OUTSIDE OF AND ADJACENT SAID CYLINDRICALMEMBER, SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER AND PASSAGE MEANS BEING AXIALLY MOVABLERELATIVE TO SAID SCREENS, HANDLE MEANS AT TACHED TO SAID PASSAGEDEFINING MEANS FOR AXIALLY MOVING SAID PASSAGE DEFINING MEANS AND SAIDCYLINDRICAL MEMBER TO A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH WATER PASSING THROUGHSAID JET FORMING MEMBER IS DIRECTED THROUGH SAID SCREENS AND AIR ISDRAWN UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID PASSAGE FOR MIXING WITH THE WATER PRIOR TOPASSING THROUGH SAID SCREENS, AND A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH SAIDCYLINDRICAL MEMBER BLOCKS WATER ACCESS TO SAID SCREENS AND DIRECTS WATERDOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID PASSAGE.